Take Some Steps to Lower Your Pet's Costs

Earlier, I pointed out a few "misunderstandings" people might have about saving costs in relation to their pets. Trying to save money by purchasing vaccines online or using a less expensive flea medication often leads to bigger bills and potential danger to your pet.''

Luckily, there are a lot of easy steps you can take to help minimize your pet's healthcare costs.

First, (and this sounds very simple) play with your pet! Veterinary behaviorists all agree that a tired dog is a happy dog and happy dogs don’t tear up furniture or get into trouble. Since behavior issues are the number one reason for abandoning pets, this fun task might literally save your pet’s life.

Playing with your pet has health benefits as well. A well-exercised pet is less likely to be overweight and suffer from obesity related problems such as arthritis, certain cancers, or diabetes. Just think how a couple extra walks each day will help your pet and help trim your waistline!!

Next, when exercising your pet, use appropriate restraints and confinements. Pets who roam freely are often hit by traffic, get into fights or eat something dangerous. Emergencies like these can end up hitting your wallet very hard.

Even loving your pet has money saving benefits. Petting and caressing your pet can help find those little lumps and bumps sooner. Cancer is very common in our pets and can be very expensive to treat. Earlier detection generally means a better outcome and usually less expensive treatments.

Despite all of these precautions, some pets will just get into trouble or develop a serious disease. Although veterinary medicine is still a bargain compared to other health services, most of us would be hard pressed to pay a big veterinary bill out of pocket. Companies like Pets Best Insurance offer a variety of insurance plans to assist owners with unexpected costs. But even today only a small percentage of pet owners insure their pets’ health.

If paying a premium every month isn’t appealing to you, consider investing in a Pet Health Savings Plan. PetVetPro helps people save money for potential pet emergencies. Unlike insurance, the money you pay into the program is yours. This allows you the flexibility to use the savings for car repairs, dental work, or whatever – including emergency surgery for your pet!

These are challenging times and likely will be for some months, maybe even a year or longer. It is a challenge to think about your furry friends safety when just feeding the family stretches your budget. If you have concerns, talk with your veterinarian. Sometimes less expensive drugs are available or you might be able to get a written prescription for a generic form. The big lesson here is to simply communicate. Don't take matters into your own hands or you just might end up hurting your wallet in addition to your pet!

Dr. Patty Khuly, a friend of mine from the Veterinary News Network, had a recent blog post detailing a case in which well-meaning clients avoided her recommendation in order to save some money. Long story short, their dog needed extra surgery at an additional costs. So, although we all have a need and a desire to save money, cutting corners with our pets is probably not the best option.

Economy Continues to Pummel Pets

Each week I prepare a News Alert for the more than 350 veterinary reporters of the Veterinary News Network and each week I sort through way too many stories of pets being given up due to the bad economy, pets missing routine care because of the economy, and how shelters are being dealt a double whammy with decreased adoptions and donations while intakes of pets are increasing rapidly.

I can empathize with the millions of pet owners who are trying to make tough decisions every day...money is tight and expenses need to be cut. But many people don't understand that there is a lot you CAN do to avoid high pet expenses. Better yet, maybe people need to understand what you SHOULDN'T do...

First, don’t skimp on preventive care. Vaccinations and parasite prevention are important parts of maintaining your pet’s health and yours as well. Some diseases and many parasites are zoonotic. Did you know that you or your kids can contract roundworms or hookworms from the new puppy you got over Christmas??

Owners might choose to buy vaccines online or from a pet store. While this idea sounds great, there are many risks. Can you trust that the supplier properly stored the vaccines? Is the product expired? Vaccines are delicate biological suspensions needing refrigerations and proper storage. Improper preparation could make the whole process worthless.

Choosing a lower cost flea product from the store is another option a pet owner might investigate. Before you buy, consider this. The EPA has received more than 25,000 reports of over-the-counter pesticide reactions in pets since 2003. So, although you might save a few dollars on the product, the emergency trip to the veterinarian could cost a lot more! You can read about these pesticides and get the whole story here.

As I lurk in many pet health forums or even just surf the Web daily, I see a multitude of well-meaning people recommending Neosporin or other topical antibiotics for wounds and lacerations their pet might have received. On the surface, this sounds ok, but most veterinarians are frustrated when a pet shows up several days after the injury and now the minor wound has become a raging infection. Similarly, pet owners who try to bandage their pets often place the bandages too tight, restricting circulation and causing limbs to swell.

I think the worst thing I see routinely is the use of human medications for pets. A recent article from the ASPCA listed the top ten human medications that poison pets. Again, most people don't mean to cause a problem, but so many of our medications, especially pain relievers, can cause serious issues for our pets. Did you know that a single acetominophen tablet can kill a cat? It's true...a typical extra strength Tylenol tablet (about 500 mg of acetominophen) damages a cat's red blood cells to the extent that they can't carry enough oxygen and the cat dies.

In the next edition, I will take a look at what you CAN do to prevent those expensive veterinary bills! If you just can't wait, go to the Veterinary News Network and find the Pet Care During Tough Times story.